Wednesday, February 11, 2009

How Big is Your Bible?

When I was a new Christian, it sometimes seemed as though one's spirituality was guaged by the size and color of one's Bible. The truly spiritual folk always walked around with a big, black, leather Bible. But I wonder how many folk who walk around with Big Bibles, fail to appreciate just how Big their Bible is supposed to be. A lot of people today seem to use less than a third of what is recorded for us in the Scriptures...we even have separate New Testaments we can buy! There is more going on there than meets the eye. In Matthew 13:52, Jesus, after delivering some parables of the Kingdom, says, "Therefore, every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house, who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old." The Old Testament is the New Testament concealed; the New Testament is the Old Testament revealed. It's not like the OT is a God of wrath and the NT is a God of grace. The entire Bible from start to finish is about the Great Story of Grace...from beginning to end it is the Great Story of Redemption...the Hero and main Character, Christ, walks through every page. We are to be followers of Christ that appreciate Christ in ALL the Scriptures. On the road to Emmaus, Jesus, begining with Moses and all the prophets, interpreted to the disciples in ALL the Scriptures the things concerning Himself (Luke 24:27). So here's the deal...what's your view of the Bible? Not in theory, but in actual practice. Here are two questions that will help you answer the question for yourself: Do you believe that nothing from the Old Testament directly applies to Christians today unless it's been repeated by New Testament Scriptures? Or, do you believe that everything from the Old Testament applies directly to the Christian today, except for that which has been specifically changed by the New Testament Scripture? The first view believes that the Old Testament is a book primarily addressed to Israel in distinction to the Church. The second view (which, if you care, is my view) believes that the ENITRE Bible applies to the Church, the people of God in all generations. How Big is YOUR Bible?